In the afternoon, in the conference room of Sun Strike Studios …
After much hesitation, Zhou Muyan decided to choose Sun Xi to be Min Jingchao's assistant.
At first, he wanted to filter through Boss Pei's design intent. However, he realized that everyone had handed in a zero.
Since that was the case, he could only choose the most trustworthy chief designer who had more experience in FPS games.
After much consideration, he was still most satisfied with Sun Xi.
At that moment, both of them looked at Min Jingchao, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Since Boss Pei had left, their only hope was on Min Jingchao …
Zhou Muyan and Sun Xi knew very well that Min Jingchao was GOG's chief designer and should be quite capable in terms of business.
In other words, even without Boss Pei, the game he designed would not fail too badly if something went wrong.
But in this game, it wasn't just a matter of getting by.
Three top companies in the industry working together. If the game produced was average, it would be equivalent to a failure.
Given how broad Boss Pei's requirements were, could Min Jingchao design a game that did not disgrace Tengda's brand? That was doubtful.
Zhou Muyan said considerately, "Brother Min, it's alright if you don't have any ideas for the design now. You can think about it for a few more days. You can't rush things or you might make mistakes.
"Once the design goes astray, it would be difficult to make up for it later.
"Do you need anything in life? If you're not used to the food here, I can get the company's cafeteria chefs to make more dishes that you like. "
Zhou Muyan had to serve Min Jingchao well.
On one hand, it was because the latter's working environment in Tengda was top-notch and he might not be able to adapt here. On the other hand, he was afraid that his bad mood might affect the design.
Min Jingchao smiled and said, "Oh, it's alright. Thank you for your concern, Boss Zhou. Don't worry about the design either. I've basically come up with a prototype. I just need to improve it a little. "
Sun Xi was shocked. "Huh? That fast?! "
It was just a big frame but it was difficult to think of a big frame so quickly!
That was because this big frame would determine the basic fun and core concept of the game. It was like the foundation of a building. While it could be fooled, the consequences would be dire.
He thought of it so quickly?
Was there really no need for further deliberation?
Sun Xi and Zhou Muyan were both stunned.
If not for the fact that he trusted Boss Pei and Min Jingchao, he would have thought that the two of them had teamed up to cheat him of his research funds.
Seeing their shocked expressions, Min Jingchao was a little surprised. "What? Is it very fast? "
"Oh, perhaps every company's workflow is different. You don't understand Tengda's situation."
"I didn't design it from scratch. I answered according to Boss Pei's hints.
"This isn't an essay with an independent topic, but a structured cloze."
"As long as you master the method, it will be very fast."
"My speed is only below average among Tengda's chief designers. After all, I spend most of my time on GOG. I don't have many opportunities to participate in other types of games.
Zhou Muyan and Sun Xi were still confused.
Min Jingchao gave a series of explanations, but after the explanation, the two of them were even more suspicious.
You call this cloze?
Cloze should be used to write out most of the essay. You only need to fill in a few words, right?
Boss Pei was doing the opposite. He only gave you a few words and asked you to write out the entire essay!
What's more, he gave you some ambiguous and unimportant words. What were you supposed to do?
Your ability is simply heaven-defying, alright?
What's more, you're telling us that such a heaven-defying ability is a standard among Tengda's chief designers? You're even below average?
What the f * ck …
Tengda's talent pool could only be described as terrifying …
Zhou Muyan cleared his throat. "In that case, Brother Min, why don't you tell us the specific time and plan now? I'm very curious!"
Sun Xi nodded as well. "That's right. How did you deduce a design plan from Boss Pei's broad criteria? It's a miracle! "
Min Jingchao smiled slightly. "Well, it's not difficult for those who know how to do it. Boss Pei has been training our abilities in this area. I've been working at Tengda for so long. Even a block of wood would be enlightened by now.
"Then, I'll briefly explain to you how Boss Pei wants Bullet Hole 2 to be designed.
"Do you still remember what Boss Pei said during the meeting and the questions I asked after that?"
Zhou Muyan and Sun Xi nodded in unison.
They were all simple questions that were not profound. What's more, they had all recorded them down.
Min Jingchao said, "These requirements are enough.
"Boss Pei has already explained the game's hand feel and the charging model himself.
"To put it simply, Boss Pei would never repeat his design. Ocean Stronghold has already used the same strategy once; he would definitely not use it again.
"Moreover, the current market situation has changed compared to before."
"Ocean Stronghold has nurtured and absorbed a group of FPS game enthusiasts. The entire player base is much larger than before. What's more, Ocean Stronghold has been in operation for two to three years. Many players are already sick of it.
"If we were to copy Ocean Stronghold now, we wouldn't be able to make it in time. If the gameplay is not attractive, would a pirated version be able to beat the original? That's impossible.
"That's why we have to make some changes and make some breakthroughs.
"Everyone says that Tengda Games is a golden brand. Players will buy the game the moment it is released. However, this golden brand is also built on continuous innovation, continuous change, and always bringing surprises to players.
"If one day, Tengda Games releases a game that cannot bring a sense of novelty to people, this golden brand would probably rust very quickly."
Zhou Muyan nodded, expressing his sincere admiration.
The logic was simple; everyone understood it.
Not innovating and being stuck in the same old ways was akin to rowing a boat against the current. If one did not advance, one would fall behind.
However, sometimes, knowing this logic did not mean that one could put it into practice. If one could do it just because one knew it, then most problems in the world would not be problems anymore.
In reality, innovation often meant risk, and risk meant failure.
It was not difficult to advocate for innovation. What was difficult was for a company to pursue innovation regardless of the cost. What's more, from the boss to the employees, all of them pursued innovation with a high degree of unity.
Min Jingchao continued, "Boss Pei said that the game's skin must be completely changed. He also said that it should be low-key, realistic, and unique.
"Actually, combined with the previous requirements in terms of hand feel, he could guide us. That was a very clear hint; it could even be said to be explicit!"
Zhou Muyan and Sun Xi were confused. "Huh?"
How was that explicit?
Unique meant the cool feeling of making the Red Kilin. However, if it was low-key and realistic, how could it be unique?
If it was a gun that existed in reality, how could it be unique if it was more similar to a gun in reality?
Min Jingchao shook his head slightly as if he could not understand their slowness. "It's simple; change the packaging!
"Who said that we have to make an FPS game with a modern background? Isn't a futuristic background better?
"Think about it. The path of modern firearms is actually not feasible anymore. There's Counter Strike, Bullet Hole, and Ocean Stronghold ahead of us. We'll bump into them no matter what.
"However, if we make it into a futuristic sci-fi style, wouldn't we be able to balance realism and cool?
"Boss Pei's realism doesn't mean that it has to be realistic with modern firearms. It can also be realistic with future firearms.
"Make those high-tech firearms from the future simpler and more realistic. Don't add so many weird special effects. That would make them look more realistic.
"What's more, the problem of hand feel would be solved.
"The reason why Bullet Hole's hand feel is not popular is because the gun feels the same as Counter Strike, but there's a slight difference in hand feel.
"This slight difference makes gamers feel uncomfortable. That's why they don't rely on either side.
"However, what if we change it to a gun from the future? As long as we change the packaging of these weapons, gamers wouldn't feel so uncomfortable. They wouldn't think that 'the AK47 doesn't feel like this'. They would only think that 'this gun feels more like the AK47' or 'this is the AK47 from the future'.
"Since technology has advanced, isn't it normal for the hand feel of a gun to change?"
Min Jingchao's explanation stunned Zhou Muyan and Sun Xi. Amidst their confusion, there was a hint of realization.
So that was what Boss Pei meant?
Before this, they had never thought in this direction, mainly because their thinking was limited.
Once Boss Pei said that they would make Bullet Hole 2, they had followed Bullet Hole's train of thought.
It was just like how the previous game was themed around the Three Kingdoms. The sequel would definitely be considered in the context of the Three Kingdoms. Would it make sense if it suddenly became a high-tech Three Kingdoms game?
However, after hearing Min Jingchao's explanation, both of them felt that it made sense.
Yes, making a game with a sci-fi background could indeed solve all these problems perfectly!
Sun Xi was confused. "But can't Boss Pei just say that we want a sci-fi background? Why do we have to beat around the bush? "
Min Jingchao shook his head slightly. "Just say it? Why don't we just tell you the entire design plan?
"That's what Boss Pei is testing us on. He wants to see if you can jump out of the limitations and come up with the most perfect solution.
"If I said from the start that we would make a sci-fi background, would you still think about why we want to make a sci-fi background? Would you still think about the art style, hand feel, and other related problems? "
Zhou Muyan quickly asked, "What about the plot and game mode? Did Boss Pei give us the corresponding answer, but we just didn't understand it? "
Min Jingchao nodded very firmly. "Of course!
"However, Boss Pei gave us different degrees of freedom for these two questions: the former is clear and has a narrow scope; the latter is vague and has a relatively wide scope.
"Boss Zhou, actually, you can try to decipher it.
"Do you remember what Boss Pei said when I asked Boss Pei if he wanted to make a plot?"
Sun Xi immediately answered, "I remember. Boss Pei said that we don't want to make a plot and that the funds can be used elsewhere. For example, we can make a map."
Min Jingchao nodded. "That's right.
"In Boss Pei's words, it is more important to clearly point out the direction.
"Then, what do you think Boss Pei means by 'making a map'?"
Sun Xi thought for a moment. "Combined with the sci-fi background that we concluded previously … are you saying that we should make a few more maps for battle mode? A stronger sci-fi style and a more complicated structure? "
Min Jingchao asked in return. "No matter what kind of background, we have to make such a map. Would making a sci-fi background cost more money? Is there any difference in essence from making a modern war background? "
Sun Xi was speechless. He thought for a moment and said, "… No."
Drawing was still drawing for art. Drawing sci-fi backgrounds might require some original content, but the workload would not be much higher than ordinary modern war backgrounds. Thus, it would not be possible to spend a lot of money on that alone.
Min Jingchao continued asking, "So how can we spend more money on maps?"
Zhou Muyan thought about it seriously and said uncertainly, "… make a map that is big enough?"
If they were to make a small map, change the style or increase the number of maps, it would not be enough to spend a lot of money.
The only way was to make one or a few extremely large maps. That would cost more money.
However, Zhou Muyan said this hesitantly because he felt that this idea did not seem very reliable.
What was the point of making a huge map?
There had to be corresponding gameplay to support it, right?
Min Jingchao nodded. "Yes, that's it!
"Of course, I'm not sure either. That's why I asked Boss Pei about the gameplay. Boss Pei said to get rid of ghost mode, biochemical mode, and explosion mode.
"Then, I asked if we could create other modes. Boss Pei said yes.
"In summary, the answer is very clear: Boss Pei wants Bullet Hole 2 to be a shooting game with a futuristic sci-fi background. It would be different from the gameplay of mainstream FPS games. It would place a large number of players on a huge map and engage in a new battle mode."
Sun Xi's face was full of shock.
He had never thought that he would be able to draw out the general framework of Bullet Hole 2 with just this information. What's more, it seemed to make sense.
"However, Boss Pei did not say what the new game mode would be, did he? You can't deduce anything, right? "Zhou Muyan said hesitantly.
Min Jingchao had interpreted too many things from Boss Pei's words. That made him quite uncertain.
Min Jingchao nodded. "Indeed, he didn't. Boss Pei's goal is to give me freedom to design.
"If the first part is filled in the blanks, then the second part is a proposition essay."
"That's because cloze is no longer too difficult for Tengda's designers. Boss Pei has already consciously increased the difficulty and given the designers sufficient freedom to design their own modes.
"I have a preliminary idea now, but I still need to focus on the next step. I need to make this idea as detailed as possible. I'll need about three to five days.
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